A challenging economy is the best time for packaging innovation. With signs pointing to recovery in 2010, brands can position themselves for success by investing in innovation now.

At PACK EXPO 2009, food manufacturers are discovering the innovation they need to build stronger brands, enhance production efficiencies, meet sustainability requirements and reduce total systems costs.

With so many resources under one roof, discovering innovation is easy. Here’s an overview of some of the many technologies being offered to food manufacturers at PACK EXPO.

Optical scanning technology
The new Batchmaster® III controls package from Batching Systems Inc. has much higher processing power allowing for higher resolution products scan resulting in high definition product recognition for superior count accuracy.

The 2-gate processor design allows the feeder bowl to run continuously as one batch discharges the next batch begins to accumulate resulting in higher output speeds. The new PPU is designed for tool-free assembly and disassembly, allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance and the transparent front panel allows for visual process inspection. The PPU also has a short body to minimize product drop, and the gates are controlled by quiet smart motors eliminating the need for pneumatics and movement detection sensors.

Batchmaster® III Counters feature Verified Movement and Speeds (VMAS) technology to ensure consistent, efficient operation. Capable of running parts from 1/32” ball to a 5” x 6” part, the BMIII has an available batch reject package, allowing batches containing out of tolerance product, such as nested parts, to be rejected prior to entering the package thus eliminating waste and rework.

Industries: Medical device (primary); also suitable for food, agriculture and hardware

User-friendly flow wrapper
The Pioneer Horizontal Flow Wrapper from Campbell Wrapper Corporation features a sanitary modular design with cantilevered components. Cutting head, film and infeed servo motors with timing belt drives provide reliable, maintenance free operation. Allen-Bradley Control Logix 5000 Series PLC control provides exceptional control of machine functions.

User-friendly touchscreen operator interface includes product information, alarms, warning messages and production data. Machine can be quickly and easily adjusted for product and/or wrapping material changeover, often without the use of tools. Up to 40 product records can be stored for retrieval through the PanelView Plus 700 touchscreen operator interface. Wrapper is designed to operate at speeds up to 250 ppm.

Industries: Food, medical and general packaging

Distribution systems
Multi-Fill’s MPFD distribution systems have been designed to meet the challenge of distributing particulate products into horizontal multi-lane conveying systems. From one filling head, the portions are distributed into 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 pouches or other types of containers, depending on the configuration of the pattern selected, at up to 12 to 15 cycles per minute.

These systems replace either hand placing of the product into the containers or the need for multiple filling heads and they require less space on the line. The product is automatically placed cleanly into the container and thus minimizes seal contamination and rework. The systems are easy to disassemble and clean. No special tools are required for changeovers for improved downtime and production output.

Industries: Food (cooked rice, pasta), vegetables, fruits, cereal, pet food, refrigerated salads

In-line capper
The new beltorque™ Automatic In-Line Capper from NJM/CLI relies on belts to tighten caps rather than discs or spindles, improving product quality by eliminating cap damage and achieving more consistent torque values.

The beltorque Capper handles round, oval, square and rectangular containers from 2 to 12 inches (50 to 305 mm) in height and from 0.5 to 7 inches (12 to 175 mm) in diameter with caps up to 3 inches (75 mm) in diameter at speeds up to 200 cpm. The easy-to-operate beltorque Capper can be changed over in only five minutes, no tools and no container parts required. Torque is controlled via a single point adjustment.

The continuous-motion, in-line beltorque Capper features heavy-duty construction, a stainless steel cabinet and support frame, and a polycarbonate front guard with keyed interlock. The compact, self-contained system can be installed over an existing tabletop conveyor, requiring only 120 by 64 inches (3048 by 1626 mm) of floorspace.
 
Industries: Cosmetic/Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Nutraceuticals, Pharmaceuticals

Unscrambler for lightweighted bottles
Nalbach Engineering’s NECOSORT-III unscrambler has been designed to support the beverage industry’s push towards lightweighted bottles. Rather than relying solely on gravity, the NECOSORT-III unscrambler ensures that bottles are positively held, moved and controlled throughout the unscrambling process

In addition to its lightweight bottle capabilities, the NECOSORT-III is capable of sorting a wide range of bottle types and sizes. The unique vertical drum design has only 2 moving parts, is tolerant of damaged bottles and has a small footprint. With no reciprocating motions, complicated mechanisms, or hard to adjust container handling parts the NECOSORT-III is low maintenance and highly reliable.